Tube-coupling.



F. X. MU'LLER.

TUBE COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 5, 1910.

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7745?:1065565 Z0 7 M Z? W Tfwgf 2 g m flaw/(f Patented June 27, 1911.

UNITED STATES gairnutr OFFICE.

FRANK X. MIILLER, 0F BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE HOFFMAN, 0F BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

TUBE-COUPLIN G.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 27, 1911.

Application filed November 5, 1910. Serial No. 590,844.-

tubes may be easily and reliably coupled without the use of special tools for this purpose and which can be produced at comparatively low expense.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1.

represents a longitudinal section of my improved coupling applied to the opposing ends of two tubes for connecting the same. Fig. 2 is a detached side elevation of one of the heads of the coupling and its associated nipple and clamping jaws. Figs. 3 and 4 are transverse sections on the.c0rrespondingly numbered lines in Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

A, A represent the two tubes or tube sections which are connected by means of my improved coupling. These tubes may be constructed of any suitable flexible, elastic or pliable material such as woven cotton. rubber or lead. In the coupled condition of each of these tubes the end thereof is flared or of conical form, as shown at a.

In its general organization this tube coupling comprises two coupling heads B, B which are adapted to be connected with each other and with the tubes which are to be coupled. The connection between the two coupling heads maybe effected in various ways but preferably by the means shown in the drawings and which consist in providing one of the coupling heads with an internally screw threaded socket b and the other with an externally threaded annular flange b which screws into said socket.

Each of the coupling heads is provided at its rear end with a nipple G which has a rearwardly tapering or conical exterior adapted to engage with the flaring or conical end of one of the tubes. Each coupling head is also provided with an annular row of longitudinal clamping aws or tongues D which are separated from the enlarged front part side with an enlargement or bead e which is adapted to bear against the outer side of the flarlng part of the tube at the large part of the nipple. These jaws are preferably formed integrally with the coupling head and nipple and the connection'between the same and the coupling head is somewhat reduced so as to permit these jaws to spring somewhat and to be pressed inwardly against the tube for clamping the same against the nipple.

Surrounding each coupling head, nipple and annular set of coupling or gripping aws 1s a clamping sleeve F which has its front end adj ustably connected with the respective coupling head so as to be capable of lengthwise movement thereon, this connection being preferably formed by providing the clamping sleeve at its front end with an internal screw thread. which engages with an external screw thread on the front end of the respective coupling head, as shown in the drawings. At its rear end the clamping sleeve is provided with an internal annular bearing rib or bead f which is rounded in cross section and is adapted to engage with the exterior of the flaring part of the tube at the small end of the nipple. Upon tightening the clamping sleeve by turning the same, so that it moves forwardly its head f moves forwardly and engages the flared part of the tube, so that the latter is firmly clamped or gripped between the bead f and the rear part of the nipple. At the same time that the bead of the clamping sleeve-bears against the tube the clamping jaws are simultaneously pressed inwardly against the front end of the flared part of the tube, this being preferably effected by means of a tapering face or annular incline 9 formed on the interior of the clamping sleeveintermediate of its front and rear ends and engaging with the free rear ends of the clamping jaws, as shown in Fig. 1. By this means each tube is clamped against the nipple on two circumferential lines arranged at different points lengthwise of the tube,thereby securing a firm hold on the outer side of the I tube and preventing the parts of the cougling associated therewith from becoming etached under severe usage.

When the parts are dismembered the free rear endsjof the jaws are se arated a sufficient distance from the nipp e topermitthe end of the tube to be freely pushed into the same pre aratory to clamping the tube on the mpp e. Upon removlng the clamping sleeve from the coupling head and jaws the latter owing to the1r resilience'spring outwardly and clear the tube so that the same can be easily removed when the same becomes worn out and replaced by a new tube. The turning of the clamping sleeve may be effected by any suitablemeans' but preferably by applymg a spanner wrench to one or the other of an annular row of laterally projecting lugs h formed on the periphery of the clamping sleeve.

It is to be noted that this construction 0f tube coupling'is very sim Ie, the same contains no delicate parts whic are liable to vbecome brokenduring use and the same can be' very easily manipulated for attaching the same to or removing the same from the tubes which are to be coupled.

I claim as my invention:

1. A tube coupling comprising a coupling head having a nipple provided on its rear end with a tapering outer side which is adapted to engage wit-h the inner side of the flared end of a-tube and also, providedwith a plurality of spring clamping jaws which are-arranged in an annular row around said nipple and are connected at their front ends wlth said head while their rear ends are free and adapted to bear against the exterior of the tube .at the large part of the nipple, and a clamping sleeve surroundin the nipple and clamping jaws and connected at-its ront end by a screw joint with the head and adapted to bear at its rear end against the exterior of'the tube at the small part of the nipple while its intermediate part bears against the rear ends of said jaws.

2.- A tube coupling comprising a coupling head having a nipple provided on-its rear end with a tapering outer side which is adapted to engage with the inner side of the flared end of a tube and also provided with a plurality of spring clamping-jaws which are arranged in an annular row around said wit said head while their rear ends are free and each provided on its inner side with an inwardly projectin bead adapted to bear against the exterior o the tube at the large part of the nipple, and a clamping sleeve surrounding the nipple and clamping jaws and connected at its ,front end by ,a screw joint with the head and provided at its rear end with an internal annularbead adapted to bear against the exterior of said tube at the small end of the nipple and provided nipple and are connected at their front ends 

